Go Arnie Go! The History of Arnie's Army
At the 1960 Masters Tournament those boisterous fans were officially given the name Arnie's Army. And this military moniker wasn't assigned just because their numbers had grown so large. Soldiers stationed at the nearby Camp Gordon (now Fort Gordon) were actually manning the leaderboards around the course. In addition to posting scores, they also began making signs and cheering on Arnie. That's when an Augusta sportswriter named Johnny Hendrix coined the phrase Arnie's Army. They've been marching faithfully with him now for more than four decades on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour.
They helped him win six more tournaments in 1961. And with the Army calling "charge" at Augusta in 1962, Arnie guided a 60-foot putt into the cup enabling him to win his third Masters Title in a Monday morning playoff. During that playoff he trailed by three at the turn. But with the Army cheering him on, he rallied on the back nine to beat Gary Player by three strokes for his third Master's title.
He would go on to win 62 tournaments on the PGA Tour with the Army's support, but its impact extends beyond the manicured fairways they stroll up and down. He and his late wife's numerous charities like the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, and the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation always garner huge support.
Once when Arnie was suffering from bursitis in his shoulder, he received mail from all over the country offering remedies. When he commented in a newspaper article that his putting stroke was off, loyal fans sent him their very own tried and true putters to help the cause. The requests for his picture and autographs require two full-time secretaries alone. And whenever he loses a hard fought tournament, fans are always quick to send letters of encouragement.
Says Arnie, "I've been told many times that my Army has given me a distinct psychological edge over my opponents. I hope the Army will keep marching with me as long as our legs hold out. I hope I can do as much for them as they have done for me. Let me say that I'm a lucky fellow to have such fans."
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